The Trisagion drifted upon the tides of the Warp. Thirty-two thousand, seven hundred and sixty-eight mortals had been nailed to the hull of the Word Bearers Legion's last remaining flagship with vicious copper spikes.
Their flesh came into direct contact with the waves of the Sea of Souls, and horrific mutations spread across their bodies.
What was even more terrifying was that they were still alive. The Word Bearers sustained their lives through special means, not out of mercy, but because only the living could yield more fear and negative emotions.
Countless Warp daemons teased the humans nailed to the warship's hull. They sucked at human flesh and blood, devoured their souls bit by bit, and after playing to their hearts' content, tore them to pieces and swallowed them whole.
Warp corruption had spread throughout the Trisagion's interior. The metal born in Jupiter's shipyards was covered in a skin made of chitin and grotesque flesh, upon which many Word Bearers inscribed the scriptures written by their gene-father.
At the ship's torch towers, scarlet flames blazed fiercely, fed by innocent souls. The crackling mixed with the screams of tortured humans and the dreadful sounds of Warp daemons feeding, creating a suffocating sensation that made one's skin crawl.
"My lord, if Horus cannot awaken, then you can even dispense with that step."
"Glory to the Four Gods of Chaos, for they created heaven and earth; glory to the Eightfold Path, for its truth is endless; glory to the loyal servants of the First Circle, for they are supreme."
Listening to the lavish praise of his loyal apostle Layak, the Great Word Bearer revealed a faint smile of satisfaction.
His son's praise put him in a pleasant mood.
Eight burning censers stood beside him. The candles within had been made from human blood,